"Obstacles are those frightful things you
see when you take your eyes off your goal."

- Henry Ford

Support for
Windows XP ends this month and while ideally, we would like to see everyone use
a computer running Windows 7 or (gasp) Windows 8, we also know that extenuating
circumstances happen.So… if yousuffer
from extenuatingcircumstances, here are some tips you can
follow to keep your computing as safe as possible.

Tip #1:Install all available updates.Just because support
ends, it does not mean you should abandon all previously available support.Open up Internet Explorer.Click on the Tools Menu
then Click on Windows Updates.Bring those puppies in!

Tip #2:Install all utility software updates.When I say
utility software, I mean programs like Adobe Flash and Java.
These programs are just as popular as Windows and are a huge target for cyber
criminals.You can find these programs in the Control Panel.Once opened, look for buttons and menus that say Update.

Tip #3:Download and install all other software updates.What
other software could you possibly have, you ask?I’m thinking
about Microsoft Office, Quickbooks, Skype, even your games (except
Solitaire/Spider).If you have software, check to see if
updates are available.Typically, the last item on the
software menu bar is the About Menu.Normally, links to
software updates are found on this menu.If you don’t see it
there, then check the other menus.

Tip #4:Keep your virus software up to date.If money is an
issue, then use the free version of AVG located at
www.freeavg.com .

Tip #5:Switch Browsers.I realize that Internet Explorer is
your favorite browser and possibly your only browser.But
there are other browsers available, and as of this writing, they are still
making patches for all security issues found in their products.I would suggest trying Chrome, available at:
www.google.com/chrome,
or Firefox, available at:
www.firefox.com.

Tip #6: Change
Your Account to Limited.This one is kind of a pain in the
backside, but if you do a lot of web surfing and downloading, then this is worth
the effort.Basically, limited accounts can “look but not
touch”, meaning they can run programs already installed, but they can’t install
anything new.Since security problems generally show up as
some sort of install, setting your account to limited, should do just that -
limit the installation of a problem.Just remember, there are
exceptions to every rule, setting your account to limited is not a license to do
anything you want.To make the change, Open theControl Panel, navigate to Users.You have to have at
least one administrator account but you can make as many limited accounts as you
like.

Stay Safe and
remember, we sell computers with Windows 7.Come see us when
you are ready.